He was a wretched excuse for a human being, but for an inquisitor he w — Jonathan Lethem

"Human lives exist to be experienced, or possibly endured, but not solved. They resemble any other novel more than they do mysteries. Westerns, even. It’s that lie the mystery tells that I detest."

"“Where did you come from?” asked Omidon. “I was exiled to the margin,” said Wendy sourly. “For what reason?” “Why is anyone ever exiled to the margin? For threatening the center.”"

"“Scout, that’s a good one,” said the sergeant. “Danny-boy couldn’t scout the inside of his eyelids.”"

"The way to make a bundle in architecture right now was to devise new ways for people to pretend to gather while actually keeping their distance."

"“Don’t try to figure me out,” I said. “It doesn’t work—I’ve tried it myself.”"

"Feeling unique is what we all have in common, it’s the thing that’s always the same."